A nucleic acid sequence-based amplification assay for real-time detection of norovirus genogroup II.

AIMS: To use molecular beacon based nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) to develop a rapid, sensitive, specific detection method for norovirus (NV) genogroupII (GII). METHODS AND RESULTS: A method to detect NV GII from environmental samples using real-time NASBA was developed. This method was routinely sensitive to 100 copies of target RNA and intermittent amplification occurred with as few as 10 copies. Quantitative estimates of viral load were possible over at least four orders of magnitude. CONCLUSIONS: The NASBA method described here is a reliable and sensitive assay for the detection of NV. This method has the potential to be linked to a handheld NASBA device that would make this real-time assay a portable and inexpensive alternative to bench-top, lab-based assays. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The development of the real-time NASBA assay described here has resulted in a simple, rapid (<1 h), convenient testing format for NV. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a molecular beacon based NASBA assay for NV.

Long-term evaluation of surgically placed amalgam fillings.

The coauthors of this article had developed the clinical impression that whereas surgically placed amalgam fillings are successful on a short-term basis, the long-term prognosis for these cases may not be nearly as favorable. In order to test this hypothesis, as many patients as could be contacted, either directly or indirectly, who had been treated before 1981 were evaluated. Excluded from this study were cases for which failure could be attributed to any reason other than failure from the amalgam reverse filling. Therefore, all cases included had to demonstrate periapical healing prior to ultimate breakdown. On this basis, 60 of 104 teeth (57.7%) were considered to be successful and 44 teeth (42.3%) were determined to be failures.

Roentgenographic manifestations of maxillomandibular renal osteodystrophy.

We examined 30 male chronic hemodialysis patients and 18 male controls without known bone or renal disease to determine the utility of maxillomandibular, non-dominant hand, shoulder and pelvis films in the evaluation of renal osteodystrophy. We used panoramic periapical radiographs to examine the maxilla and mandible and sensitive rapid processing films for the hand, shoulder and pelvis. Films were evaluated by experienced personnel without knowledge of the patients. There were significant differences between patients and controls in creatinine, urea nitrogen, total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and phosphorus. Twenty-three patients had abnormal hand radiographs and 22 patients had abnormal jaw radiographs (p less than 0.05 vs. controls). Four patients had changes in the hands, but not in the jaw; 4 had opposite findings. Changes in the jaw tended to be more severe than in the hands in those with involvement of both. We concluded that dental and hand radiography are good screening techniques for evaluating bone disease. They may be useful in evaluating treatment for renal osteodystrophy.

Answers to wh-questions: a developmental study.

Forty children aged 3-6 years responded to items representing nine wh-question forms. Questions referred to three types of referential sources (conditions) based on immediacy and visual availability. The hierarchies of wh-question forms based on degree of difficulty were similar to those described in previous investigations. However, a significant interaction between referential conditions and wh-form was found to influence the relative complexity of the stimulus questions. The children were significantly less successful in giving appropriate and accurate responses when the question referred to objects, persons, or events not represented in the immediate setting. Recognition and delivery of the general category or kind of information required by a wh-form (functional appropriateness) appeared to predate substantially the ability to respond with fact, accuracy, logic, and credibility (functional accuracy). The results suggest consideration and control of referential source as well as appropriateness/accuracy response criteria in the evaluation and treatment of language-disordered children.

The effect of chlorhexidine gluconate irrigation on the root canal flora of freshly extracted necrotic teeth.

Forty freshly extracted teeth with necrotic pulps were endodontically treated under simulated clinical conditions. Bacteriologic samples were obtained before during, immediately after, and 24 hours after instrumentation, irrigation, and medication either with 0.2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate or with sterile saline. There was a highly significant (p less than 0.0049) reduction in microorganisms in the chlorhexidine-treated specimens after the instrumentation and irrigation procedures. Further significant reductions were noted after intracanal dressing of the teeth for 24 hours with the chlorhexidine gluconate solution. The teeth treated with saline also demonstrated a generalized decrease in flora after the biomechanical procedures. However, there was an absolute increase in numbers of microorganisms for 80 percent of the uniradicular and 50 percent of the multiradicular specimens when no intracanal, antimicrobial dressing was applied. It was concluded that chlorhexidine gluconate in a 0.2 percent solution can be an effective antimicrobial agent when used as an endodontic irrigating solution and that as an intracanal, interappointment dressing, chlorhexidine helps to further reduce bacteria remaining within the root canal system.

The relationship of Bacteroides melaninogenicus to symptoms associated with pulpal necrosis.

The canal contents of thirty-three cariously and traumatically exposed pulpless teeth were sampled with a special technique and cultured anaerobically for growth in prereduced thioglycollate and for Bacteroides melaninogenicus on selective blood agar plates. The presence of B. melaninogenicus was compared with the presence or absence of eight symptoms associated with pulpal necrosis and the presence or absence of growth in thioglycollate. B. melaninogenicus was found to be significantly related to pain, sinus tract formation and foul odor. Suggested relationships were found between the organism and the presence of apical sensitivity and local swelling. Growth in prereduced thioglycollate occurred more often from teeth in which B. melaninogenicus was present. With the sampling technique used, positive growth in the thioiglycollte ranged from 88 percent at the initial appointment to 72 percent at the fill appointment.

Uptake and release of chlorhexidine by bovine pulp and dentin specimens and their subsequent acquisition of antibacterial properties.

Bovine pulp and dentin specimens were treated with either a 0.02 or 1.00 percent solution of chlorhexidine for either 20 or 40 minutes. Culture determination of the acquisition of antibacterial properties by the treated specimens immediately and 1 week after the treatment was evaluated using the test organism Streptococcus faecalis. It was concluded that chlorhexidine is a potent antibacterial agent under the test conditions and that its use as an endodontic irrigating solution should be further evaluated.

Comparison of Dycal and formocresol pulpotomies in young permanent teeth in monkeys.

This study compared Dycal and formocresol pulpotomies on young healthy permanent teeth with respect to continued dentinogenesis and root end development. Pulpotomy was performed on a total of forty permanent teeth with incompletely developed roots in three young stump-tailed monkeys (Macaca speciosa). Twenty teeth were treated with Dycal and twenty with formocresol. At the end of the experimental periods the animals were killed and the specimens were prepared and sectioned en bloc for histologic examination. The interval between treatment and death ranged between 7 and 797 days. Before each experimental procedure a Procion vital dye was administered as a marking agent for continued root development. Twelve of twenty teeth treated with Dycal and seventeen of twenty teeth treated with formocresol were judged to be successful as evidenced by continued root development, absence of periapical pathoses, and the presence of noninflamed or only mildly inflamed pulps. Brown and Brenn staining showed bacteria within the pulps of the teeth that failed. All but one of the teeth in this study showed evidence of continued root development as confirmed by Procion labeling.